Chapter three:
A week has passed by. Me and Darry have finally stopped arguing. I was glad because we both actually, me, Soda and Darry promised eachother that we wouldn't fight no more after Johnny and Dally passed.
I was sitting on the floor looking at more brochures Darry had been handing me for the past couple days. Funny thing is, its now the beginning of July and I still didn't find the right college yet. But if Darry keeps on nagging me about finding a college soon, I will definitely find one.
I heard footsteps and I looked up to see who it was. Obviously, it was Darry once again, giving me some more pamphlets.
"Darry, can we just take a break right now? I have been looking through these things for nearly two hours." I said.
"Pone. We only have three weeks left til August. I would like you to go around by the end of August. His voice was getting a little hoarse. He cleared his throat and added, "I warned you before school ended. You knew I was going to do this. Here look at these." He said a little loudly. He handed them to me and it seemed like there was a million brochures lined up just waiting for me to take a look at them. I looked at them while they were sitting on my lap.
"Well, come on start looking. I'll help ya some." He said. Now sitting with his legs crossed right next to me.
I sighed closing my eyes for a second. I looked at the brochures and said tiredly, "Alright." I just grabbed whatever brochure was first from the big pile so I took it and I looked.
"Dixie State College?" I looked at him.
"I chose some colleges near by. Like in Utah, Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas." He didn't look at me this time only at some brochure he got out of the big pile.
I looked at the brochure. All it was telling me is about when it was founded, the fields, financial aids and etc. Looking at all my grades, it looks like I could go to this college but I just need to have more of an open mind and not taking the first thing I see.
Darry just sat there looking more into brochures. He hasn't said a word to me since I last talked to him. Instead of looking on whats on top of the mountain top full of brochures, I just took one out of the pile carefully trying not to make them all collapse.
Thirty minutes have passed. I looked through all of the brochures but they weren't as good as the one I just had which was my first. It was a long way from here but its not that far. And I think I could have a little distance anyways from my brother and Soda. I mean, everything is good between the three of us, but you know, I wanna see the world kinda. I want to explore. Its not like I am going to college in New Jersey or Rhode Island or anything like that.
I looked over at Darry. He must be set on this kind of thing. Just looking at his face, he seemed very concentrated and he was looking through them very carefully. I was happy. I would not want to be placed in some crap college. But if I did, I could always change, well if we could afford to, if it costs to change or not.
I interrupted him and said tapping him on the shoulder, "Hey Dar, check this one out. From all the others, I think I really like this one a lot."
"Alright, well I have to see it." He put his arm out. He read the brochure and his face glowed a little. You could see his eyes moving when he was reading something. It's kind of funny.
"You like it?" I asked putting on a dumbstruck grin on my face.
"You know Pone, I really do." He looked at me and smiled. "You know you have good taste." He smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder.
I just had to smile. I am so glad things are working out for the both of us. I really am. If we were still fighting, I don't even think he would bother helping me. Even if he didn't help, I would have still found this college.
"They got everything in here. The college is great, its cheap, and has almost every class you could imagine." He smiled again. I never seen my big brother this happy before. The last time I have seen him this happy was before mom and dad died. If I get accepted in this college, I think Darry will be very proud of me. I really do think that. And Soda aswell. I do feel bad that he dropped out but you know, he wanted to do it so he could help us out. I am very happy but it just bugs me sometimes. I guess you gotta do somethings that have to do. Whether you like it or not.
"Why don't we call them later? When does their offices close?"
"I will call them and their office closes at five." He looked down at the brochure he had in his hands, "What time is it?"
I looked at the clock and said, "It's just one thirty. We still have time." I said looking at him.
"Naw, come on Pone, lets call them now." He said with a laugh.
Like I said, I never have seen him this happy. I hope this will keep up between us. I never thought he would be this happy again. I only imagined or dreamed about him being happy again. I really did dream about him being happy, but not this happy. It was like I thought I was in a different world or if I was dreaming and just waiting to be woken up by Soda and just thinking to myself that it was just a dream and that this would never happen. But, you never know what life will throw at you.
He got to the phone and he said in his low voice, "453-652-7500.." He said while looking down at the paper and then dialing the numbers slowly so he could get it right.
Darry's P.O.V.:
I swear. I have never been this happy in all my life. Well, I mean ever since mom and dad died. I can't believe that my kid brother is finally going to college. I knew he would go because I would do anything to make him go. I am not gonna make him live in a vacuum like we are living in right now. I wanna find the college that is right for him and that he can be happy. And I know that once he gets a scholarship in whatever he chooses, he will be happy and thats all I want is for him to be happy and live a successful life. I can't believe I am actually thinking this right now.. I mean, Pony thinks of me or he used to ever since we stopped fighting, that I was the one that wanted him to be put in a boys home or the one that doesn't love him. I have always had loved him from the day he was born. Sometimes I just don't know what goes on in this brother of mine's head.
Rinnnggg... Rinnngg... Rinnggg... I heard the sound going to my ears for several times now until a lady that sounded older said, "Hello?"
"Hi, my name is Darryl Curtis. I have just recently got your brochure and I would like to send an application to you for my brother to get enrolled."
The old lady said, "Okay. Just give me your address and your application will be sent to your home in 5 days. May I please have your address?"
"Yes ma'am. It's 731 N St Louis Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74103." He said slowly. He said it that way because of the lady's age. He figured that he was better off talking slower or it would take him forever for the lady to get it right.
"Okay thank you, Mr. Curtis. A application will be sent to you in five or more days. When done, please fill out the form and send it here and we will check and see. Any more questions?"
"No ma'am. Thank you and have a nice day."
"You too." She said. And he quickly hung up the phone.
I couldn't wait for the application. Hopefully it will be here less than five days. But I just have to be patient.
I turned over to Pony and said, "Okay now all we have to do is be patient and we will have the application in no time!" I smiled.
Pony said, "Alright. Thanks Dar for calling." He smiled and he got upstairs to put the brochures back on the desk in my room.
Pony's P.O.V.:
Several hours have passed and it was now seven. I waited aimlessly for Soda to get out of work. Since I was out of school, I quickly lost track on what day it was. I asked Darry and he told me it was a Wednesday. During the week, he comes home late at night. Not too late but late like we always have to wait an hour or two until we get to have dinner.
I looked over at the coffee table and there was a book. It was probably one of his Readers Digest magazines he keeps. He told me that I couldn't read it when I was fourteen but now, I think I am pretty old enough to read it. I mean for Pete's sake, I am eighteen. I think I can now read stuff that Darry told me not to read when I was a young teen by now.
To pass time, I read it. All it was basically was about articles featuring inspiring stories, famous people, money-saving and home decorating tips. Reading it was okay but it wasn't my type of thing. Even though I love reading, I still have different taste in other books/magazines. Just because you are a book lover or so called bookworm, you don't have to like every book you see. They also had some funny little comics.
I think Two-Bit would have liked those and I am sure he said about every joke on there to tell you the truth. Knowing him, he probably gets those jokes in a glance of a magazine. But I also thought he got jokes by his friends. More likely his mother. Boy, she is sure a joker and same with his little sister, Brenda.
I heard a slam infront of my house. It sounded like someone getting out of a car. Thanks to that magazine, like I said, it passed me time. Soda just got out of Two-Bits dark turquoise car. I guess he is coming over for dinner.
Two-Bit was so loud I could hear him laughing and giggling the whole time. I heard him say, "Yeah so she says to her husband out of the blue, 'Honey, you know I'm a virgin and I don't know anything about sex. Can you explain it to me first?'" They both started laughing he continued with laughing in between each word, "Isn't that funny? I was laughing so hard that the guy was blushing and looking ashamed of himself. Now thats something you don't hear in a bar once in awhile."
Two-Bit said a new joke before entering the door because now he was laughing even harder this time. He stumbled a little and said, "Hey Pony! How's it going?"
Soda said, "Hey, Pony!" He said with his dreamy smile that showed his pearly white teeth.
"Nothing much. Well Darry's gotta tell you something. But at dinner, okay?"
"Oh boy, I can't wait to hear what Superman has to say." Two-Bit grinned.
Five minutes have passed, thanks for Two-Bit for keeping me occupied with his story that happened at the bar, Darry shouted, "Soda! Pony! C'mon!"
As we got to the kitchen, Two-Bit said, "Ya forgot about me. You didn't hear me come in?"
The sudden voice made him quickly look at Two-Bit and said, "Oh sorry about that. Sit down and eat."
"Mmm-mm. Darry you sure can cook!" Two-Bit complimented him.
"Thanks." Darry said.
"So whats the good news? Pony told me that you knew about it. Come on, tell me." Two-Bit said leaning forward a little.
"We found a college for Pony." He smiled.
I smiled but what really made me happy was what Two-Bit said, "No way, good job Pony!" He giggled.
"Pony, is this true?" Soda asked.
"Yeah it is."
"Alright!" He pulled him to a quick big hug. "So you got accepted?"
"Not yet. They're going to give me an application to fill out. Hopefully he gets in. They have everything there. It seems like a great college. I would really be happy if he got accepted."
Dinner was great. Everyone seemed happy. Even Darry. I think things are going to work out well sooner or later.
So we all finished our dinner shortly after Two-Bit left because he said that he was going to hunt some action and get rip-roarin' drunk with some other friends of his.
I was in the kitchen when he left, cleaning the dishes. Darry came in and said, "I'll do the dishes you two. Go on and head to bed now. Okay?" He said grabbing Pony's shoulders while carefully moving him to the side.
"Okay, Dar." I said. I almost walked away with the wet plate in my hand. "Oh, here you go."
"Thanks. Night. See you tomorrow morning." He said with a faint smile.
I smiled back and said, "Night."
We both walked upstairs and we went in our bed. I went in the room and I took off my shirt and pants only leaving me with a pair of briefs. Soda did the same. We both lay on the bed backs facing each other until I turned around and said, "Hey, Soda?"
"Mmm?" Soda mumbled.
"You think Darry is happy? I think so." I said smiling even though his back was still facing me.
Soda turned around and said with a smile but this time only showing a grin, "Yes. I think he's very happy. I am glad. But I am proud of you, Pony."
I smiled but Soda continued, "I am proud of you because you listened to Darry telling you to not get out of school and just sit there and fix cars." He licked his lips and continued, "I knew that was never your type of thing."
"Yeah. I am happy too. I finally get to go to college." I said now laying on my back looking at the white ceiling that turned a very light shade of blue because of the darkness.
Soda who was still facing me said, "Pony, whatever you do. I mean whatever college you choose, just be careful okay?" He smiled and reached an arm over me and I mumbled an okay and we drifted to sleep with his arm still around me.
I really really liked this chapter a lot. I hope you did too. Btw, I never went to college (I am 14) and I don't know how you apply to college by phone so I did the best I could. Please keep on reading and reviewing.
